Solution Using Art to Raise Awareness About School-To-Prison Pipeline Awarded Top Prize in the Aspen Challenge: Philadelphia Competition

Students from the School District of Philadelphia’s John Bartram High School are headed to this year’s Aspen Ideas Festival after claiming first place in the Aspen Challenge: Philadelphia competition at Drexel University on April 11. A team comprised of eight students and two educator-coaches came up with a winning solution to Mural Arts Philadelphia executive director Jane Golden’s challenge to use art to raise awareness about the school-to-prison pipeline and promote restorative justice and education. It was enough to earn them all-expense paid trips to present their solution at the Aspen Institute’s annual flagship gathering of global leaders, influencers, and entrepreneurs in Aspen, CO. George Washington and Northeast high schools placed second and third, respectively.

Launched by the Aspen Institute and Bezos Family Foundation in 2012, and implemented in partnership with the Philadelphia School District in 2017 and 2018, the Aspen Challenge provides inspiration, tools, and a platform for young people to address critical issues and become leaders in their communities. In Philadelphia, 170 students’ Aspen Challenge journey began in February with a day of inspiration and engagement from cross-sector leaders who have taken some of the world’s most pressing issues into their own hands. During the Opening Forum, they challenged School District of Philadelphia students to do the same. Teams representing 17 schools across the Philadelphia area accepted one of six challenges and had eight weeks to return to their communities and design solutions.

John Bartram High School’s team Give Us Our Crowns is educating the southwest Philadelphia community about entry points to the school-to-prison pipeline and its impact by creating origami cranes and displaying them throughout the community.

George Washington High School’s team PhilaMundo is an environmental outreach program focused on raising awareness of climate change and providing opportunities for their community to mitigate further damage to the planet.

Northeast High School’s team Alpas is building bridges between existing resources and those in need by hosting workshops, utilizing social media, and partnering with community organizations.

“The Aspen Challenge is truly an opportunity for young people to encourage and inspire each other, and the adults around them, to solve critical issues facing their communities,” said School District of Philadelphia superintendent Dr. William R. Hite. “Thanks to the experience of participating in the Aspen Challenge and the dedication of their teachers and coaches, our students are uniquely positioned to lead fundamental change around issues like climate change, the school-to-prison pipeline, and poverty.”

One Bright Ray Community High School junior Rayah Abdul-Malik, whose team is Slam Dunk Junk, learned that teenagers can in fact impact their communities in positive ways. “I’ve never seen so many people who want to help the world and help our communities,” said Abdul-Malik. “Some teenagers really do want to make a change in this world.”

“It was really inspiring see other people get involved in our project,” added Franklin Learning Center freshman and Future Finance team member Brandon Santos.

Said West Philadelphia High School junior and T.E.A.C.H. (Teens Educating Against Cyber Hate) team member Madelaine Akinyemi: “Even though we’re teenagers, we can bring huge change to the world. We don’t have to wait for adults to tell us what to do; we can do it on our own.”

Additional awards including People’s Choice, Best Exhibit, Team Spirit, and Impact were presented to Northeast High School’s team Alpas, Philadelphia Performing Arts: A String Theory Charter School’s team wholeheARTed, Frankford High School’s team Pioneers 4 Poverty, and Lankenau High School’s team Carbon Busters, respectively.

“Being trusted with the planning implementation, execution, and sustainability of a service project with a platform like that of the Aspen Institute has given these students a confidence and ambition that is contagious,” said John Bartram High School/Give Us Our Crowns coach Erin Stewart.

Said coach Curtis Davis, a teacher at Mastery Charter School: Simon Gratz Campus and coach of team P.A.U.S.E. (Poverty and Unemployment Stopped Through Education): “The value of the Aspen Challenge for the community and the students is beyond words.” A form of project-based learning that is a departure from many school curricula, Davis added that throughout the process, “students are handling statistics, writing reports, gathering information and seeing what did not work and what did, and using a scientific approach to create change.”

“The Aspen Challenge represents promise and perpetuity,” continued Stewart. “It is a counter to the naysayers that think millennials are self-centered and unaware. It is undeniable evidence that the formula for the future that this city and country has always relied on is still true – the youth are the hope of the future.”

Currently in its sixth year, the Aspen Challenge has previously partnered with the Los Angeles Unified Schools District, Denver Public Schools, District of Columbia Public Schools, Chicago Public Schools, and the Dallas Independent School District.